Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-23
fast please tell me about them; for it is a
good race of horses, the best ever own
ed. ABRAHAM BACHAUD.
THE MORGAN HORSE.
From The Spirit of the Times, 1912. !


5. S. and yourself. 1t is sufficient honor
for my humble attempts at utility, in
bringing to light an obscure point of
some interest to all who breed or use
road horses, to be noticed in so flattering
manner by one who stands in the elite
of scientific horsemen of any age or
country. | beg you to note me the price,
if known, of his new book, which, trust,
will be as bugle-call to the agrcultur-
lists of America to rescue the noble
animal from barbarous and degraded to
cultivated and civilized condition. (The
price will be about SO in sheets).
We have unfortunately no answer from
Mr.. Justin Morgan of Stockbridge, VT,
to whom you noted me promise to send
a number of the Spirit containing my in
quirv, "as to why his father always
called the horse Dutch, and what sort of
mare he was known, believed, or sup
posed to be out Of
The controversy stands thus: The Or
iginal Morgan horse was brought at two
years old from Springfield Mass, and
said to be got by "True Briton," of Beau
tiful Bay, which appears to have been
high-bred nag. SO far the account is I'M
doubted. 1t is also said that this True
Briton" was got by blood horse,
''Traveler.' and out of a mare of the
same breed. But Justin Morgan, Jr., as
serts that his father called him Dutch
Now, am almost tempted to ask the IA
vor of your forwarding another number
of the Spirit containing this to Mr.. JUS
tin Morgan, Stockbridge, VT, that he
may oblige us by writing you wherefore
it was that his father called the horse
Dutch; and what he himself knows, or
may have heard, with regard to his an
cestral stock. (rhis number shall also
be forwarded.)
Now, our friend, strong, with great rea-
son. in the belief that none but "blood
will tell assumes that the Morgan horse
was probably of nearly or quite pure
turf stock. Your humble servant, hay
ing high faith in the virtue of crossing,
begs to maintain the contrary, that we
have reason to think him radically of
some other stock, though perhaps owing
many of his fine qualities to an admix-
ture of the valued eastern blood.
Until we have more precise informa-
ton as to the horses dam, and especially
that which we hope for from Mr.. H.,
whose father purchased the animal when
a colt, and, it appears, had previously
owned his sire. he will allow it to be fair
that our imperfect evidence pro and con
with regard to the point at issue shall
: stand to balance.
, And now let us look to see what char.
!, acteristics of the race indicate close
!, connection with, or display marked
, dissimilarity from, thoroughbred.
Generally when the turf horses are
crossed or intermingled with those of an.
, other stock, and the offspring prove Wig
orous and healthy. the mixture produces
an increase of size and coarseness of form
The offspring of their progeny for many
generations being marked by height and
length, rather than by solidity, weight
and proportion; also by fractions OF
queer temper, and lightness of hair OF
the name and tail. The reverse of all
t this characterizes the descendants of the
, Morgan. The only points in which they
, bear Il striking resemblance to the Arab
} and his tribe are, as heretofore mention.
: ed, cleanness of head and limb. and that
bright intelligence of countenance which
wins the beholder's good opinion at a
; glance.
The turf horse is long geared; his nat.
ural action is the gallop; his crosses grow
, large ana loose and nave every variety OF
, temper and color. His health is precari-
Gus, and requires careful treatment: he
is light in name and tail
The Morgan Horse is short geared. OF
i close built, having great weight for his
size, moves easiest on brisk walk or
trot, grows up compact, and does not
pass moderate size. He is hardy as a
flint and is noted for the quantity and
curliness of the hair of both name and
tail. In New England, Morgan tail is
a proverbial expression for one that is
thick, bushy and wavy.
Were the peculiar name and tail of the
Morgan horse, unaccompanied as it is by
a corresponding shagginess of the limbs,
the only marked difference between this
breed and that of the turf horse, it would
be sufficient to warrant suspicion of a
different ancestry, and mode of rearing
The thinness of the long hair in the blood
horse is an evidence, as it is a conse-
quence, of his derivation from warm
climate. The abundance in the Morgan
equally indicates that some of his ances-
tors have flourished in cooler or mois.
ter atmosphere or that they have been
bred for many generations with view
to increasing the quantity of long hair
as an ornament.
Some of vour corras pon1antc or ,aol